Highlights from the Kennedys’ journey to Dallas

Fifty years ago President John F. Kennedy and the First Lady Jackie Kennedy boarded Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base en route to Texas. It was an especially significant trip for the First Lady, and involved several stops prior to their arrival in Dallas. NBC’s Brian Williams reports.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>>finally here tonight, the eve of tomorrow's
50th anniversary
of the
assassination of john f. kennedy
. few people remember the president's trip to
texas
started 50 years ago today. it was a political trip, four stops and the president brought along a
shining star
. 50 years ago today, the president and first lady boarded
air force
i at
andrews air force base
for the
flight west
to
texas
. and it was a significant trip for
jackie kennedy
because of the death of their infant son patrick just months earlier. and so upon arrival in
texas
and
san antonio
and again in houston, mrs.
kennedy
received much of the attention.

>>the first lady of our land, mrs.
john f. kennedy
. [ applause ]

>>at their third
texas
stop in ft. worth, even though it was late and it was raining, people lined the streets to see them. the kennedys spent their last night together at the hotel
texas
. the next morning,
november 22nd
, the president emerged to greet a crowd of 5,000 gathered outside.

>>i appreciate you being here this morning. mrs.
kennedy
is organizing herself, takes longer. but, of course, she looks better than we do.

>>and when she appeared, mrs.
kennedy
made a stunning entrance wearing the now famous pink
chanel suit
, white gloves and
pillbox hat
.

>>i introduced myself by saying i was the man who accompanied mrs.
kennedy
to paris. i'm getting some of that same sensation as i travel around
texas
. nobody wonders what lyndon and i wear.

>>president kennedy
almost never wore hats. in fact, the hat industry complained he was turning other men against them. but that day he was given a stetson.

>>we couldn't let you leave
texas
without some protection against the rain. [ applause ]

>>i'll put it on in the
white house
on monday. if you come up there, you'll have a chance to see it then.

>>that last flight from ft. worth to neighboring dallas took just 13 minutes, and the first couple emerged into bright sunshine. the crowds were big and the president and first lady headed over to the fence line to shake as many hands as possible. from there it was into an open car. and his drive into
downtown dallas
where, sadly, history was waiting just
10 miles
away. that
stetson hat
the president was given that day is in the jfk in boston along with that speech in dallas he was never able to deliver. we'll come on the air live with a moment of silence marking the assassination 50 years ago. that will be at
1:28 p.m
.
eastern time
on most of these nbc stations.